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Data updated 2026-10-07

ZIP Code 08879 · South Amboy, NJ

Middlesex County · pop 23,556 · ACS 2020–2024

The median household income in ZIP Code 08879 (South Amboy, NJ) is $92,786, higher than 26% of the other ZIP Codes in New Jersey.

Its FHFA home price index changed +63.1% over the five years to 2025.

01 — Where it stands

$92,786
Median household income
± $12,739 MOE
$389,800
Median home value
± $16,080 MOE
$1,660
Median gross rent
8.7%
Poverty rate
Percentiles for ZIP Code 08879 within Middlesex County, New Jersey and the U.S.
MeasureValueCounty percentileState percentileU.S. percentile
Median household income$92,786 ± $12,7398th percentile (35 ZIP Codes compared)26th percentile (529 ZIP Codes compared)73rd percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared)
Per capita income$43,79917th percentile (35 ZIP Codes compared)24th percentile (529 ZIP Codes compared)67th percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared)
Poverty rate8.7%79th percentile (35 ZIP Codes compared)69th percentile (529 ZIP Codes compared)36th percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared)
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher28.9%11th percentile (35 ZIP Codes compared)19th percentile (529 ZIP Codes compared)58th percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared)
Owner-occupied homes62.9%38th percentile (35 ZIP Codes compared)27th percentile (529 ZIP Codes compared)21st percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared)
Housing vacancy rate5.4%88th percentile (35 ZIP Codes compared)62nd percentile (529 ZIP Codes compared)25th percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared)
Median home value$389,800 ± $16,08014th percentile (35 ZIP Codes compared)32nd percentile (528 ZIP Codes compared)74th percentile (22,833 ZIP Codes compared)
Median gross rent$1,66017th percentile (35 ZIP Codes compared)34th percentile (528 ZIP Codes compared)80th percentile (22,865 ZIP Codes compared)
Income inequality (Gini index)0.38926th percentile (35 ZIP Codes compared)22nd percentile (529 ZIP Codes compared)20th percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared)
Average adjusted gross income per return$79,75123rd percentile (35 ZIP Codes compared)32nd percentile (523 ZIP Codes compared)65th percentile (22,230 ZIP Codes compared)
Returns with AGI of $200,000 or more5.6%26th percentile (35 ZIP Codes compared)31st percentile (523 ZIP Codes compared)65th percentile (22,230 ZIP Codes compared)
Home price index, 5-year change+63.1%61st percentile (35 ZIP Codes compared)54th percentile (510 ZIP Codes compared)77th percentile (18,843 ZIP Codes compared)
Business establishments per 1,000 residents16.611th percentile (35 ZIP Codes compared)23rd percentile (529 ZIP Codes compared)38th percentile (22,700 ZIP Codes compared)
Average annual pay per employee$43,96717th percentile (35 ZIP Codes compared)16th percentile (529 ZIP Codes compared)34th percentile (22,551 ZIP Codes compared)

Percentile groups: Middlesex County · New Jersey · U.S. Hover a percentile for the number of ZIP Codes compared. MOE = 90% margin of error.

02 — Home prices

+7.4%
1-year change
2024–2025
+63.1%
5-year change
2020–2025
+107.9%
10-year change
2015–2025

Home price index — ZIP Code 08879

Home price index, ZIP Code 08879, 2000–2025Line chart of the annual home price index: 100.0 in 2000 and 320.5 in 2025. Every value is listed in the data table below the chart.100200300400200020052010201520202025320.5

FHFA ZIP Code index (2000 = 100) — annual, developmental, not seasonally adjusted.

Data table
Home price index by year, ZIP Code 08879
YearIndexAnnual change
2000100.0+12.5%
2001111.9+11.9%
2002124.3+11.1%
2003135.1+8.7%
2004161.6+19.6%
2005188.5+16.7%
2006208.9+10.8%
2007207.3−0.7%
2008194.1−6.4%
2009176.6−9.0%
2010167.6−5.1%
2011156.2−6.8%
2012145.2−7.0%
2013150.2+3.4%
2014151.1+0.6%
2015154.2+2.0%
2016165.4+7.3%
2017169.1+2.2%
2018175.9+4.0%
2019190.2+8.1%
2020196.5+3.3%
2021219.2+11.5%
2022244.3+11.5%
2023271.5+11.1%
2024298.4+9.9%
2025320.5+7.4%

03 — Nearby ZIP Codes

ZIP Code 08879 and nearby ZIP Codes
ZIPPlaceDistanceMedian household incomeMedian home valuePoverty rate5-yr HPI change
08879South Amboy, NJthis ZIP Code$92,786$389,8008.7%+63.1%
08859Parlin, NJ1.4 mi$99,882$445,8007.0%+61.1%
07721Cliffwood, NJ3.1 mi$123,060$424,7004.6%+84.5%
07735Keyport, NJ3.1 mi$97,536$406,0005.8%+65.4%
10307Staten Island, NY3.4 mi$147,184$801,3006.0%+29.3%
08832Keasbey, NJ3.8 mi$78,017$278,80031.1%+67.3%
08861Perth Amboy, NJ3.8 mi$64,491$370,90019.3%+61.8%

Up to six nearest ZIP Code Tabulation Areas within 30 miles, by straight-line distance between Census center points (2024 Gazetteer).

04 — Business mix

391
Establishments
4,852
Employees
$213.3M
Annual payroll
$43,967
Average pay per employee
Establishments by sector, ZIP Code 08879
SectorEstablishmentsShare of ZIPU.S. shareRelative concentration
Retail trade5614.3%12.4%1.2×
Other services5614.3%9.5%1.5×
Accommodation & food services4912.5%9.3%1.4×
Construction4511.5%9.6%1.2×
Professional, scientific & technical services359.0%11.7%0.8×
Health care & social assistance338.4%11.9%0.7×
Transportation & warehousing276.9%3.3%2.1×
Administrative & support services225.6%5.3%1.1×
Real estate & rental184.6%5.5%0.8×
Wholesale trade164.1%4.4%0.9×
All other sectors307.7%12.4%0.6×

Counts are establishments (business locations), not jobs. Relative concentration = the sector’s share of establishments here divided by its share in the U.S. (1.0× = the same share). Average pay is shown only where at least 20 employees are reported. ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023.

05 — About this data

How percentiles are calculated

Percentiles compare this ZIP Code with other ZIP Codes in the same county, the same state and the whole country. Only ZIP Codes with their own American Community Survey estimate, a population of at least 1,000 and a published median household income are compared, and only those with a value for the measure. A percentile of 64th means the value is higher than 64% of the other ZIP Codes in that group (0 is the lowest value, 100 the highest); it describes the size of a number, not a judgment about the area. County and state percentiles are left blank when the group has fewer than 5 ZIP Codes. The number of ZIP Codes compared is shown with each percentile.

Census figures are published for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, which approximate USPS ZIP Code delivery areas; values shown as — are not published or are suppressed by the source.

Use of this page

Area statistics only. These figures describe a ZIP Code area — not any person or household — and do not rate the area or the people who live there. CoverFi is not a consumer reporting agency; do not use this page to make decisions about credit, insurance, employment or housing.

Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, ZIP Code Tabulation Areas. Estimates are survey-based and have margins of error.
  2. U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 (establishment counts by NAICS sector; employment and payroll totals).
  3. Federal Housing Finance Agency, House Price Index for five-digit ZIP Codes, census tracts and counties — annual, developmental, not seasonally adjusted.
  4. IRS Statistics of Income, Individual Income Tax ZIP Code Data, tax year 2022.
  5. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files (ZCTA locations, used for nearby ZIP Codes).
  6. HUD USPS ZIP Code Crosswalk Files (ZIP-to-tract and ZIP-to-county assignment).

This product uses Census Bureau data but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau. This product uses the HUD User Data API but is not endorsed or certified by HUD User. ZIP Code Tabulation Areas are Census approximations of USPS ZIP Code delivery areas and may not match them exactly. ZIP Code is a trademark of the United States Postal Service.